How to Pass the i-Ready Test: A Guide with Tips and Examples

The i-Ready Test – sometimes called the i-Ready Diagnostic Test – is a computer-based adaptive assessment used to monitor pupil’s growth and progress through their academic career.

Used to monitor progress in math and reading, i-Ready offers educators valuable insight into the progress and attainment of their pupils.

In this article, you will learn more about the i-Ready test, how it’s administered and scored, and how to help your child prepare for the test. You will also find i-Ready sample test questions and answers to frequently asked questions.

What Is the i-Ready Test?

It’s important to know how well a student is progressing with their education and the best way to do this is with regular testing and assessments. This way, teachers will be able to easily identify if a child starts to fall behind and can implement strategies for improvement.

Schools can use i-Ready diagnostic testing for pupils throughout their educational journey, with tests adjusted and adapted for use by everyone from kindergarteners to students in their senior year.

This computer-based, adaptive assessment in math and reading is typically administered three times a year as a form of continuous assessment.

Subjects Covered in the i-Ready Test 

The i-Ready diagnostic test is designed to assess skills and knowledge in two main areas:

• Reading
• Math

Reading

The i-Ready reading test will contain between 60 and 90 questions depending on the age of your child. There is no time limit for answering, and most students will complete their test within 90 minutes.

Questions on the i-Ready reading test will cover a range of topics including:

• Vocabulary – Understanding of word meaning, synonyms, antonyms, and other core vocabulary skills
• Phonics – How well students understand word sounds and the sounds different letter combinations create
• Comprehension skills – The ability to read and understand a range of information and draw conclusions from it
• High-frequency words – Recognition and understanding of commonly-used words
• Phonological awareness – The ability to listen and comprehend audio passages and instruction

Sample i-Ready Reading Question

The honeybee is a remarkable insect that plays a crucial role in pollinating flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Honeybees live in colonies that can consist of up to 60,000 bees. Each colony has one queen bee, whose primary role is to lay eggs. Worker bees, which are all female, perform various tasks such as foraging for nectar and pollen, building and protecting the hive, and caring for the young. Male bees, or drones, have only one role, which is to mate with a new queen.

What is the primary role of the queen bee in a honeybee colony?

a) To forage for nectar and pollen
b) To lay eggs
c) To build and protect the hive
d) To mate with a new queen

The correct answer is: b) To lay eggs

The passage states that the primary role of the queen bee is to lay eggs. Other tasks such as foraging for nectar and pollen, building and protecting the hive, and caring for the young are performed by worker bees, while male bees (drones) mate with a new queen. Therefore, the correct answer is b) To lay eggs.

Math

The i-Ready math test will typically contain between 60 and 90 questions depending on the age of your child. Like the reading assessment, there is no time limit and the majority of pupils will complete the test within 90 minutes.

Questions on the i-Ready math test are designed to evaluate skills including:

• Geometry – How well students understand concepts like shapes, angles, and spatial relationships
• Algebra – Assesses knowledge of algebraic concepts, pattern, and function
• Number sense and operations – Understanding basic math concepts like numbers and operations
• Problem solving – The ability to use mathematical reasoning skills and problem-solving strategies
• Measurement and data – Understanding of units of measurement, data analysis and data interpretation

Sample i-Ready Math Question

If a rectangular garden has a length of 15 meters and a width of 10 meters, what is the area of the garden?

a) 25 square meters
b) 50 square meters
c) 100 square meters
d) 150 square meters

The correct answer is: c) 150 square meters

To find the area of a rectangle, you multiply the length by the width:

$\text{Area} = \text{Length} \times \text{Width}$$\text{Area} = 15 \text{ meters} \times 10 \text{ meters} = 150 \text{ square meters}$

How the i-Ready Diagnostic Test Is Administered

Students will usually complete their i-Ready assessments in their usual school setting. Testing will often be administered by their usual teacher.

The i-Ready test is computer-based, with multiple-choice questions and no official time limit. In the majority of cases, students will spend between 60 and 90 minutes on each paper.

Questions on the i-Ready diagnostic test are designed to be reactive. This means that the test is formatted to react to a student’s previous answers. If they answer a question incorrectly then the next question will be easier. 

Similarly, if a question is answered correctly, then the next question will be more difficult. This form of testing allows accurate insight into the current level a child has achieved and helps to identify specific areas of difficulty.

Generally, teachers will not administer the math and reading assessments together. Usually, they will be spread across a day or two to allow the students to have breaks between assessments.

How to Prepare for the i-Ready Test

There are a number of ways you can help your child prepare at home. Some of these are simple ideas that won’t take very much time, while others may take a little more thought.

• Read with your child – Regularly reading a range of fiction and non-fiction materials helps to build vocabulary and comprehension skills
• Puzzle books – Doing puzzle books can help with pattern recognition and problem solving skills as well as basic numeracy and understanding of shape.
• Sleep and nutrition – Never underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep and a balanced meal. Studies have shown that these things can improve focus and recall in test conditions.
• Grocery shopping – Taking your child grocery shopping can provide an opportunity to practice simple math skills as well as reading. Ask them to identify items from your grocery list, or calculate how much items will cost when you buy two or three of them.
• Games – Board and card games can be an excellent way of practicing a range of skills, including basic calculation and reading comprehension

Practice Tests and Resources

There are a number of websites offering practice questions and sample tests for you to do at home with your child, take a look at the ones at TestPrep-Online.

Many of these will offer a few i-Ready sample test questions for free, with the option to pay for full testing packs.

Alternatively, you can ask your child’s school whether they have any free resources and past tests that you can use for practice.

Using practice tests will help to familiarize your child with the format of the i-Ready test. This will mean that they feel less overwhelmed when it comes to sitting the test for real.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the i-Ready test hard to pass?

This isn’t really a pass or fail assessment. Teachers use i-Ready diagnostic assessments to identify how well a student is progressing.

What happens if you fail the i-Ready test?

Because i-Ready is a form of continuous assessment, it isn’t really possible to fail. If your child scores below their expected level, teaching staff will consider whether intervention strategies need to be put in place to help them fill any gaps in their learning.

What is the i-Ready test? 

What is the i-Ready diagnostic test? It is an adaptive diagnostic assessment that evaluates students' skills in reading and math, helping teachers personalize instruction.

How many questions are on the i-Ready diagnostic test? 

The i-Ready diagnostic test typically has around 50 to 60 questions, but the number can vary as it adapts to the student's ability level.

What does an i-Ready score mean? 

An i-Ready score indicates a student's current skill level in reading or math, helping to identify areas of strength and those needing improvement.

What is a good score on the i-Ready test? 

A good score on the i-Ready test is typically at or above the grade-level expectations, which are detailed in the scale score report.

Is the i-Ready diagnostic test important? 

Yes, the i-Ready diagnostic test is important as it helps educators understand students' strengths and areas for growth, guiding targeted instruction.

Final Thoughts 

Testing is never nice, but it’s an essential tool in assessing how well students are learning. Regular assessment can help schools to identify pupils who are struggling before they fall too far behind, and means those who are exceeding expectations can be offered opportunities to join gifted and talented programs.

Doing lots of i-Ready test prep with your child can help to reduce feelings of worry and anxiety, and enable them to feel confident that they can perform to the best of their abilities.

Using the information provided in the i-Ready test results, you will be able to work with schools to support your child and help them grow.